Niels Laros, the Dutch teenage sensation, demonstrated his incredible range and endurance by clinching the senior men’s 10km title at the Warandeloop in Tilburg on Sunday. Competing in this World Athletics Cross Country Tour Silver event, the 19-year-old executed a flawless strategy, patiently navigating the flat yet winding course before surging into the lead on the final lap. Laros crossed the finish line in an impressive 29:35, leading a Dutch 1-2-3, with Abdirahman Mohamed (29:42) and Nik Lemmink (29:44) completing the podium.
This victory is yet another milestone in Laros’ breakout year. Recently crowned 2024 Rising Star at the Golden Tracks awards, Laros has dazzled on the track, smashing the world U20 1000m record with 2:14.37 in Hengelo. His Olympic campaign further solidified his reputation, as he reached the 1500m final and broke Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s European U20 record with an astonishing 3:29.54. Looking ahead, Laros will compete at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships on December 8, where he seeks to claim U20 gold and end his junior career on a high note.
In the women’s 8km race, Sarah Lahti of Sweden made history, claiming her third consecutive title in Tilburg with a commanding time of 26:58. Returning from hamstring surgery that sidelined her during the track season, Lahti showcased her resilience and dominance, finishing well ahead of Dutch runner Ineke Van Koldam (27:15) and Belgium’s Roxane Cleppe (27:18). Her win makes her the first athlete to achieve this feat since Sifan Hassan’s three-peat between 2013 and 2015.
In Alcobendas, Italy’s Nadia Battocletti further cemented her position as a cross-country powerhouse. The Olympic 10,000m silver medallist triumphed over Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhalfen, clocking 26:14 to win the senior women’s 8.040km by a staggering margin of over one minute. Klosterhalfen, the former European 5000m champion, settled for second in 27:29. Battocletti now sets her sights on the European Cross Country Championships, aiming to become the first woman in history to win U20, U23, and senior golds at the event.
Meanwhile, the Dutch mixed relay trials in Tilburg saw Robin van Riel (5:07) and Marissa Damink (6:06) secure wins in the 1.8km short-course races. The Netherlands, aiming to improve on their bronze medal from last year, will field a strong team at the European Championships in Antalya.
